The women's blog with Jane Martinson + Mark Twain | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson+books/marktwain
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Hold the sugar and spice: Mark Twain's Advice to Little Girlshttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2011/jul/21/mark-twain-advice-little-girls
The 19th-century American author wrote a wickedly dark short story for young girls – share your favourite feminist children's books below<p>&quot;Good little girls ought not to make mouths at their teachers for every trifling offence. This retaliation should only be resorted to under peculiarly aggravated circumstances.&quot; These words are from the pen of Mark Twain in 1865, the same year Lewis Carroll published his enduring masterpiece, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. But Twain's offering to children's literature, <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2011/jul/15/mark-twains-advice-little-girls/" title="Advice to Little Girls">Advice to Little Girls</a>, is a short story with an altogether darker view of small females.</p><p>The author dispenses wickedly funny guidance on what to do, for example, in the event of a playmate having a fancier doll than you (&quot;You ought not to attempt a forcible swap with her, unless your conscience would justify you in it, and you know you are able to do it.&quot;) Now the father of three daughters's story has recently been republished, accompanied by pictures from New York-based author and illustrator, Vladimir Radunsky (also a father of exclusively daughters). It's hard not to imagine their close experience with female offspring is the reason the book has no trace of the idea that little girls are made of &quot;sugar and spice and all things nice&quot;: one piece of advice tells you to not to correct a brother's behaviour with mud – but with hot water to &quot;move impurities from his person, and possibly the skin, in spots&quot;. Ouch.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2011/jul/21/mark-twain-advice-little-girls">Continue reading...</a>WomenLife and styleMark TwainBooksChildren and teenagersChildren's books: 7 and underChildren's books: 8-12 yearsFeminismThu, 21 Jul 2011 11:03:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2011/jul/21/mark-twain-advice-little-girlsClassic Image / Alamy/AlamyMark Twain wrote Advice to Little Girls in 1865. Photograph: Classic Image / Alamy/AlamyClassic Image / Alamy/AlamyMark Twain wrote Advice to Little Girls in 1865. Photograph: Classic Image / Alamy/AlamyBim Adewunmi2011-07-21T11:03:06Z